Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), a stalwart in New Jersey politics who had planned to retire at the end of his fifth term next year, died Monday, NorthJersey.com reported. He was 89.
First elected to the Senate in 1982, Lautenberg was the oldest member in the chamber. He had missed several votes last year as he battled with health problems. After first retiring in 2000, Lautenberg was elected to the Senate again in 2002. Following the announcement last year by Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker (D) to pursue his seat, Lautenberg announced in February that he would not seek re-election in 2014.
A member of the Army, Lautenberg was the last remaining World War II veteran in the Senate. He died Monday morning at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell due to complications from viral pneumonia, according to a statement from his office.
